Lesson 1: Guide to pre-civil war England
Social Positions
Within the strict English hierarchy, there were several titles. Men could rise from the bottom upwards. There were cases of sons of honest tradesmen becoming Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of Canterbury and attaining other high social positions.
At the peak of the social ladder you had Dukes and Duchesses. In the 17th century, almost all of these were members of the Royal Family. Not until the late 17th century was non-royalty promoted to this rank, (with the exception of the Duke of Buckingham).
Next were Marquis and Marchioness, followed by Earl and Countess, Baron and Baroness, and then Viscount and Viscountess.
Early in the 17th century, King James I created a new rank called Baronet situated at the bottom of this ladder, which was a hereditary knighthood, (normal knighthoods, e.g. Sir Mark Turnbull, were for life only.) James used this title for financial gain, as he sold most off. These titles could be conferred at the Monarch’s pleasure to whomever they chose, for service to the Monarch or country.
Below this came the gentry, or squires and landowners, down to the common yeoman.
